John b



JOHN B. COPPINGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHODOF FASTENING JEWELRY.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 15,969, dated October 28, 1856.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. CorrINGER, of the city and county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new method of holding, securing, and fastening broochesbuckles, buttons, breast pins, and other similar articles to which they may be fixed; and I do `hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being made to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification and which are herein referred to by letters, and similar letters indicate similar parts throughout.`

This invention consists substantially in the following: Two levers A A and B B (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,) straight, circular, or of any other shape or form, are connected together by ahinge a, a, allowing the said levers to be removed from their position in the same plane, or in parallel planes and form a certain angle between them (Fig. 1.) Each of these levers has a pin or needle p, p', fastened at one of its ends, namely: One of the levers, A, (Figs. l and 2,) at the end farthest from the hinge, and pointing outward, and the other lever B, at the end nearest to the hinge. These pins are bent in the shape of hooks, or part of circles as seen in the figures. The pointed end of these hooked pins being directly in opposition and farthest from each other, when the levers are parallel in their position (Fig. 2,) these points move toward each other, when the lever B, is removed so as to make an angle with the lever, A, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus when the levers are at angle the hooked pins approach and are nearest to each other. In that position the pin of the lever A is struck in the stuff, object or thing on which the clasp is to be fastened, as shown in Figs. 1, 2. The red lines st, st, represent that object, whatever it may be. Then, by advancing the lever B, which carries the second pin p', in its original position parallel to lever A, this second pin (20') enters the stuff or object also (Fig. 2, st, st.) To do this the point moves away from the first pin p, and describes a circle around the axis of the hinge. In this position the whole clasp cannot be removed from the stuff or object in which l sitiOn. This might be done by giving one of the levers (A,) thej shape of a ring (Fig. 3,) or a fork, of any form (Fig. 4) with parallel branches forming a spring, against which the second lever B, having on one of its edges a groove, is forced (Figs. 1, 4,) s s, and Fig. 6.

Instead of one pin on the end of each lever two or more might be used if it is required. The two levers A A and B B, instead of being connected directly together by a hinge may be both connected with separate hinges to a third lever C, C, as seen in Fig. 5, in which case the two levers, must be moved or advanced together and the two pins then enter the stuff at the same time.

Any piece of jewelry, precious stone or other ornament can be fastened to one of the levers covering all or part of the clasp; thus rendering invisible, the means by which it is held. By giving the pins a circular shape one of them having the axis of the hinge precisely at its center, the pins will enter the stuff, by moving the lever, without bending or producing any folds in it, which is never the case with common buckles and brooch fastenings. Another advantage of this new clasp is that when it is fastened to a surface it lies steadily against it. The pins can be made in such a shape as not to be seen at all outside. Being shorter than pins generally used for brooches, &c., they can be made finer and consequently they will not make such a large hole in the stuff they are struck in.

What" I claim is- The method of` fastening jewelry, &/c., substantially as set forth herein.

J. B. OOPPINGER Witnesses:

JAMES MORROGH, WILLIAM P. MORROGH. 

